Dealing with, or even asking for, deadline extensions can be a tricky issue. Everyone (nearly) finds themselves in the position to need one at times. And the generous can begin to feel like they are being taken advantage of.

One lawyer in Washington D.C. missed an extended deadline due to a series of events. He spares no embarrassment in explaining what happened. The brief reads like a sit-com script.

To summarize, the attorney needs to respond to a summary judgment motion.

But he gets gout and pneumonia. This leads to some unusual cocktails of drugs, which leads to an inability to get the response done.

The drugs lead to a “severe gastrointestinal disturbance.”

Enter Alvin the Cat. Rather, exit Alvin the Cat – he died – apparently stuck in a closet for about a week.

This leads to a burial, a funeral, and conversations about life and death with his (six?) children. It went something like this:

Followed by another gout attack from the burial process. Followed by a close friend’s sudden need for counseling regarding his divorce, perhaps instigated by the spirited life and death discussion about Alvin.

Followed by a scanner issue.

Followed by a late brief and show cause order.

Followed by the unwanted publicity about it all. Good luck, Mr. Founier.